Combined removable-key single-piece shell and automatically-interlocking shell and switch-mechanism socket.



H. IN. .LAWRENCE 'AND swlTcII MECHANISM'socKET. APPLICATION FILED 'MAYI2. 1914.

Patent-ed spt.. 21, 1915.

COMBINED RE/NIOVABLE KEY SINGLE PIECE SHELL AND VIIUTO'MATICILLYINTERLOCKIN-C'SHELL UNITED ISTATES"i? al'iiiia'T5-j i HARRY w. LAWRENCE,or nENvE COMBINED REMovABLE-KEY SINGLE-PIECE SHELL AivnamroMATICAiEYJN'rEitLooK ING sHELEAND SWITCH-MECHANisM SOCKET 1Specification of Letters Patent. fat'n/ted Slept 2.131915:

Application led May 12, 1914. Serial No. 838,092.

To all .whom it may concern cordance with my invention@ Fig. 7, is a ofthe swit'clymechanism. `And 8," is an end view oi" the detachable" key.

Similar letters of referencc'refer to similar parts throughout theSeveral views,A

Referingtii theldrawings-lThe numeralneater, lnore artistic inappearance. and one that cannotbecome accidentally separated around thekeyas those now in use sollietimes do.l. 'l v My present invention alsoprpvides a p Be it known that I, HARRY lV. LAWRENCE, I designates theoutside linished and arti'sti- 5'5 a citizen of the United States of America, callyfl arranged shell of an 'electric light residing in thecityand county of Denver socket; and 2 designates the inside switchandState of Colorado, have invented a new .mechanism supporting Icasing,which is ,v and useful Combined Removable-Key Singleadapted rto-fit inand lie/secured4 to 4the out Piece Shell and Automatically-Interlockingside shell 1, so that itwill not become acci'- 60 Shell and SwitchMechanism Socket, of" dentally displaced orfall or come out offv thewhich the following is a specification. l shell. -f I .i f

My invention relates to a combined remov- The shellf of my improvedsocket 's .pref-il able key single piece shell and automatically erablyofthe type showmand claim y'in my interlocking shell and switchmechanism cop'end'ing4 application, Sen/ 'N; 838,093, 6 5' socket; andthe objects of my invention are: being made of one singleintegral-monolithic `first, 'to provide in an electric light socket,piece, without any'seanis' or joints, ht it a removable switch key, avone piece shell, can however be madev out of metal, for in-,f

.and means'fcr removably securing the switch stance thin-brass, `thesame as mostall sockets supporting casing -to the shell and for rearemade now, by' lining the inside ,fof the 70 movably .attaching the' keyto (the switch 5 metal vshell vwith a non-'conductive lining,- second,to provide a simple and integral such as wood fiber, whichis commonlyused, -"monolithic structure socket vshell and an ator any4 othersuitable material.

. tachable and detach-able `switch operating My 'mproved `single pieceshell should b key, and, third,rto provide in an electric light made ofanon-conductive -inateria'l, and I. 7'5 socket, a one "piece integrallyformed shell, preferably use porcelain.l The' upper endi of" to whichthe switch mechanism automati' the switch supporting casing 2, is alsoIrl/ade cally locks y:itself 4'against accidental displaceof anonjconductive material, while its lrur ment, a key-that can beattachedand end 3 'is'v made of metal and is connected in the light turned on oroff as desired and any suitable manner tothe casing 2. '80 thenheremoved yfrom the yswitch and shell'l .In all sockets on iliemarketatpresent, until the operator desires to` again turn on the outsideshell which is invariably made o rfofi' the lightf I attain theseobjects by the of thin metal, is made in two or more pieces,mechan-ism'illustrated in the accompanying and -is so constructedthatits parts canbe drawings, in which:. vtelescoped over the oppositeends of the 85 Figure 1, is a Side elevation, showing my switchsupporting mechanism and its fsupimproved 'lamp socket -in connectionwith a porting casing, and these divided .parts` are lamp' of the usualtype.- Fig. 2, is a vertical, arrangedl to nr 'at or adjacent to thesocket sectional view showing the' socketand the'"and to fit ar nd xitsshank. This wdividedjA other coperating elements constitutingmyconstruction ofthe shelly is made necessaryin 90.l inventi'dn. Fig.` 3,is ahorizontal sectional the present state of the. art, because the viewof Fig. 1, on the line of the "switchswitch- ,keys are fastenedpermanently `operating shaft. Fig. 4, is a vertical, sec against eitheraccidental or intentional distional view of the socket, on a line atright placement by persons desiring to manipulate angles to that of thesection shown in Fig. the socket by turningthe light on o r off by 2,the switchV mechanism being" removed. means of the key. Fig. 5,' is alongitudinal sectional view of My present invention, however, enables athe detachable key. Fig. 6, is a perspective shell to be made in oneintegral piece. thusVA view of theswitch mechanism, showing the verymaterially reducing its cost of proswitch operating shaft as constructedin ac 4 iduction, t us furnishing a shell stronger. loo

luf.

switch when an operator desires to turnon the light, and can be removedbythe opermade, it is essential that some means be 'employed to lock theswitch supporting mechanism to the interior of the shell. There are anumber of ways'in whicht-his' feature I of my invention may be carriedout, and my v invention contemplates broadly any and all means by whichthis featurecan be accomplished. I, however, illustrate 'a means which Ipreferably use for locking the supporting casing o'f the switchmechanism au-h tomatically. ,A 1

My preferred .means for Vautomatically locking the switch mechanism toits outer shell, consists of providing the key operating shaft 4 of theswitch mechanism, with a resllient lateral or"tran s.verse movementofsufficient resilient reciprocal stroke to allow the operating shaft,tobe pressed down toward the outside surfaceof the switchmechanismvagainst its resilient means far enough to allow the switchmechanismto be inserted in the shell and then to springV outwardlybeyond the outside surface of the switch ymechanismunder an' expansiveresilient pressure into the\keyhole aperture 6, with 40 which all shellsare provided, into which the switch operating key is extended. j

The outer shell of my improved socket'is provided with an aperture thatis especially adapted/ to receive both the switch key and also tr J'outer end-'of the switch operating shaft, [which is positioned on theswitchmechanism to resiliently bound or spring into this aperture whenVthe switch mechanism and its' supporting mechanism `are v pushed intotheir operative position into the outer shell, and in order to providethat the key receiving resilient shaft of the switch can easily bearranged to'move .directly into i the key'and operating shaft receivingand locking aperture of the shell. I provide theinterior peripheralsurface ofthe shell with a keyway 7, which extendsfrom the outer end ofthe outer shellv to the' aperture 6..'

The outer end of the switch operating shaft fits loosely into thiskeyw'ay when compressed or pushed into switch casing andv entered intothe keyw'ay, when it willvslide 'along the `key'way as the switch-casing is pushed intothe 'shell until it enters the aperture, when itwill spring into this with cooperating means on thel shaft, toex- Atriclights: T he inner end of the shaft is rol tatably mounted in a bearingaperture formed` in the end 9 of an angularyoke shaped bracket member10, 4that 1s secured to the casing of the switch mechanism, the oppositeend of .which is provided with an angular end 11 that is provided with abearing aperture through and beyondwhich said shaft extends, and inwhich rit is rotatably mounted. This .'shaft, in addition to rotatingfreely in its bearings 10 and 11,.also has 4 a longitudinal reciprocalmovement in them sufficient to allow its freeend to move into y the keyhole of the shell, and therehylock the free` end of this shaft into theshell. This longitudinal reciprocal movement 'of the shaft is defined inone' direction of its reciprocal movement by a pair of laterallyprojecting lugs 13, that are pressed out of' the-metal of the oppositesides of the shaft,

and which are positioned to bear against the inside surface ofthe angledend 11 of the yoke` shaped bracket, when it is moved tol the end of itsoutward Stroke, and the shaft is normally held in this extreme outward yl position or end of its reciprocal "stroke by 'a spring 14;, which maybe arrange together- .105 ert an expansive resilient pressure on theshaft, by any suitable .means that will hold it .with its lugs 13against the inside surface of the angled end 11 of the yoke bracket. Ipreferably, however, arrange the springand shaft" to holdlitunderexpansive resilient pressure in the following manner: A fiatl bladespring 14 `is secured at one end to the bracket-10 and its opposite end15 is. proyided with an aperture 17. This end 15 is 115 bent up and ismounted on the shaft, which extends loosely throughthe aperture 1 7 andthis free end 15 of the spring isvvarranged to bear with a resilientexpansive tension"y against an abutment mounted on or secured,v tothe-shaft; as illustrated, howeverfI use for this abutment theswitchoperating block l16, which is provided withan axial aperture-compensating or relief 4sides which are fiat',` the switch actuatingpreferably use 'the switch blockas the abutportion on the shaft 'to actment block for the resilient expansive spring 14 that holds the shaft atall times when not forcibly pressed in against it, out into the key-holeof the outer shell to lock the switch mechanism to'the shell. `And whileI preferably use this switch block as theabutment for thespring 14, andmake itact .in thel switch to performv these two functions, I could usean additional collar or a ,shoulder as an abutment for the spring 14 tobear against, Vand saidi collar or shoulder would be independent of theswitch block but wouldadd additional labor to the cost of producing thesocket,` which is unnecessary, as'the switch block fully answers thepurpose. The resilient end of the spring'14 consequently is arshaft insuch ator to turn ranged to bear'constantly with a' resilient expansivepressure against the. switch block, and presses it against ,the nsidelugs 20, and consequently forces the side lugs 13 against the insidesurface of the angle end 11 of the yoke shaped bracket 10, which' holdsthe shaft always extending into the key-hole of the shell and locks theswitch mechanism to the shell against displacement, and the switchcasing and vits mechanism can only be unlocked from the shell byV askilled melamic that knows how to pressthe shaft into the switch and atthe same time move it out of the key-hole' into the-keyway slot 7 whilehe is holding the pressed shaft below the inner edge of the key-hole.Then he can draw the switch mechanismand its supportthe shell, is proingkey can be inserted in'the vaey-holegand be instantly attached andlocked to it in such a manner as to turn the shaft 'and operate theswitch mechanism to either turn on the light or to turn it off, and thento instantly be removed from the end of the switch shaft. There are anumber of ways in `which this feature of my invention can be carriedout, and my invention contemplates broadly any and all Vwavs and meansbywhich a key can be removably attached tothe end of the amanner astoenable anA operthe shaft to manipulate the switch mechanism to eitherturn on or turn off the electric light. I preferably, however,

. a round short stem sltgly arranged` slots 27, enough to f it looselyover th ing casing out of the outer shell. The outer Aend of theswitch-actuating shaft thatprol jects into the key-hole of Avided withmeans bywhich a finger graspenough to allow following manner: TheeXtreme terminal end 22 of the shaft, is preferably made into portion,at the inner end of which oppositely projecting lugs 23 are formed, ondiametrically .opposite lsides of the shaft, by pressing outthe metalfrom its adjacent sides. These oppositely arranged lugs form side wingsand a key 24 is' provided, having a piece of the key in any suitablemanner, but

socket form 0f stem 25,- which may be secured to the finger graspingfifi` whichas illustrated extends through the finger piece and `issecured at lthe inner end of lthe linger, piece by pin 25A, thatextendsthrough the stem and is seated in a slot 25B, formed in the lower end ofthe finger, piece, while the outer end of the stem is threaded and anut` 25C is inserted in the finger piece and isthreaded to it. The lowerend of the stem its loosely in the key-hole of the shell and is providedwith an a'Xial'bore, that fits over the round stem'shaped terminal endof the shaft, and the oppositel side of thestem portion of the key is'provided with oppothat are large e-side 'lugs at the end of the shaft,and that extend through the' stem into itsaxialaperture, and extend fromits en d to a point far enough above its end to 'allow the stem of thekey to be u shed on the end vofthe shaft with its si e slots straddlingthe side lugs Q3, which fit but snugly in can be turned in eitherdirection to turn on or olf the light, while the-key can be insertedv inthe key-hole and on the shaft and be removed therefrom at the will ofthe operator;

my removable key one l sary to use an insulating sleeve that is madeF tofit the inside surface ofthe shell closely.

' This insulating shell is made of wood fiber material, and is used oranyother suitable with the divided two or more part socket shells'atpresent in use, and I do not illustrate this insulating sleeve, as it isin common use.` But is made wholly of porcelain -or any other insulatingmaterial, -or of metal such as thin brass, which is mostly used, itismade wholly and is provided with an axial aperture, that is arrangedtofit loosely over the casing of the switch, and on its outsideit isprovided around the key-hole with a raised reinforc-` ing boss 29, tha-tmakes the shell thick the end of the switch shaft to extend far enoughinto the key-hole to loosely the slots 27. The key is thus f removablylocked to the'shaft and the shaft acts as a perfect insulat' in oneintegrally constructed piece,

whether my improved shell l 440 easing,

-- 60 rangement thoroughlyland safely lock the switch eas- .ing andmechanism to the shell, anduat the y same time to allow a depth ofkey-hole abovel the terminal end of the' switch shaft-| so that 5 therewill be no p ibility of the end of the shaft coming in Contact withanything that would short circuit the switch. This reinforced'key-holealso allows a long support ing aperture for the stem of the key, whicht0 insures a irm steady jburnal'bearing for the stem of the key torotate in when inserted in thekev-hole and connected to the end ofv theswitch shaft, and in which the key can b .e left permanently if desiredwit-hout any danger of its working off from the end ofl the shaft andfalling accidentally' out of the key-hole, and from the shell. The uplper end of the'shell .contains an aperture 3J, whichv extends into itsaxial bore and is adapted to receive the .circuit wires which connect tothe switch mechanism;` as is well understood. The outside surface of theshell may be provided Awith ornamental beads, moldings, or othervmembers', and such other embellishments as are desired tok give to it afinished and artistic appearance. The .op-

eration-.of inserting the switch casing :in the n shell 4is as followsY. The axial bore of the shell and the outside diameter' of the switchcasing, are made of such relative sizes that the switch casing will yfitsnugly but slidably in the axial boreoi 'the shell, and anelectrician installing my -improved removable key switch, hasto engterthe end of the casing into the shell until `the end of the switch shaftstrikes the end yof the shell; then he pushes the shaft, which4`standsabout an eighth to three-sixteenths a of an v applied `and leftthere or can be kept away'-,v

from'the socketuntil it is turned over to i some one who is to control.thesocket and' light.

in construction and manipulation, to con' trol .the turning on orshutting lo'tf of the light, and while'Ihave illustratedV and described,the preferred construction and arof my removable key'singlepiece shelland automaticallyv interlocking shell y rand switch-'mechanism socket, Ido not wish 4to be limited to the construction and ar- 1 rangementshow-n and particularly described, as many changes might be madeinventionprovides a new type and7 kind of, an electric lightl socketthat .is novel.

without departing from the spirit of my invention,

Having claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

vl. A lampsocket, comprising an integral shell having a keyhole, aunitary switchmechanism adapted to automatically lock itselfwithin saidshell when inserted, an oplerating shaft in lalinemjent with saidkeyhole and extendmothereinto to form part of the vdescribed myinvention, what I- locking mean;I and annick-.detachable key in said4keyhole on. said shaft. .I

,2. In al socket, an integra-l monolithic structureshell .provided witha switch key receiving key-hole, a switch Jwithin said shell having aresi liently mounted actuating shaft V-extending into said key-holelandarranged to lock said switch to said shell, and a switch keyfitting thekey-hole of said shell and ar'- rnged to be removably lockedtosaidswitch `s a t.

3. In a socket, the combina'tion of an outer' shell 'member made of onepiece of any suit-l able insulating material, and provided withl fanaxial bore, and a key-hole extending through said shell into said-bore,-and a'key.-

way extending from the end of said vshell along said bore to saidvkey-hole, with a switch mechanism fitting in said shell and providedwith a switch controlling shaft having a resilient reciprocal'movement,and

arranged to (project resiliently and slidablyl into said, keyway andinto said key-hole `thereby to lock said mechanism to said shell, theend of said `4switch shaft that projectsA into said key-hole beingprovidedwith key members whereby it lmay be turned, a removable keyfitting said key-hole, and means for locking'sa-id key to the keymembers of said switch shaft. y i 4. 'In a removable socket', theIcombination of a one piece/outer shell member provided with avreinforced key-hole,w`ith a s itch mechanism arranged to beslidablyrinse. Led in said shell and proky, one piece shellv vided witha switch shaft extending'beyond the surface of the switch mechanism,said shaft having areciprocal movement-in said switch mechanism ofenoughstroke to allow it lto be moved intofsaid mechanism far enoughtolallow said mechanismto be insorted-t in said shell, 4a spring. arrangedin said mechanism to holdsaid shaft normally at the .outward end of itsresilient movement,

...said-'shaft being arranged t'o. spring resiliently into saidreinforced key-hole when said mechanism isin'serted in said shell, andthereby automatically to lock said mechanism to said shell againstaccidental ,displacement, keying members on the outerend of said shaft,and a separate and removable key fittingA said reinforced key-hole;` andprovided with means including an axial aperture arranged to allow it tofit over the end 'lll of said shaft, and' key `locking'means arranged tolock it to said shaft w-liereby said key can be applied to saidkey-holeand shaf and the switch mechanism. manipulatekligt turn on oroff the light when said .can be removed from: said socket.

ln lampsocket switch mec 1s1n, the combination of'ja socket having akey-liole, ya

said shaft at the. limit of its endwise movementzin one directiontonirmally project, into said keyhole,

and a de turning 'said shaft. 6. In lanip isocketswfitch mechanism, thecombination of a socket having a key-shells, a support, a switchoperating shaft slidably and rotatably'mounted therein, afspr'ing onsaid support for throwing .saidy shaft in one direction tonormally-project into Said key hole, vstops on saidshaft-'or engagingthesupport t0 lliinitthe end'i-'t-hrust of the shaft, and a4 key detachablewith respect to said Shaft. I' f i i i. r

7. In a devicev of the character described, thecombintion with asockethavin'g a keyhole in its wall, and an interior verticalY grooveextending from the mouth of said socket to dsaid key-hole, of a support,a

switch #operating shaft slidably and'rotatably mounted in said'suppor't,a spring for throwing" saidsliaft in one direction and stops on saidshaft which engage the supprt to limit the thrust of said shaft, saidshaft being pressed against the action of said spring to permit itsoperating end to enter the groove in said socket when inserting thesupport therein, said spring acting to project the said operating end ofthe shaft into the key-hole whenv the said end p'asses out of saidgroove, thereby to ,lock said support to said socket, and a detachablekey which is inserted in said key-hole to engage and turn saidswitclr'opei'atiiig shaft.

8.111 a device ot' the character described, the combination of aone-piece socket having 4a key-hole extemling through its wall, and an.interior l'guide groove extending from the open end ot' the-socket tosaid key-hole, a support in said socket, a l:switchoperating shaftslidably'` and rotatably mounted' in said support, a 'spring onlsaid ysupport for normally pivojecting the operatiiig end of said shaft intosaidv keyhole,

acliable key forsaid shatt b eing depressed to cause 1ts`op' erating endto enter the guide groove in vsaid support, and being thrown to projectinto the key-hole, by the said spring, when the support is whollyinserted in the socket.

9T Thecombination of a socket having an interior guide grooveterminating in a keyhol'e e .,\tending through the wall. of said socket,a support. in said socket, a slidable and rotatable switch shaft in saidsupport, a` spring on said support for normally throwing fsa'id shaft tocause its operating end to project into said key-hole, and a detachablekeyv for the operating end of said shaft,y which is inserted in saidkey-hie,

vinserting and withdrawing said support.

'10. lamp-socket, comprising a shell shaving a keyhole, a block in'saidshell, a

U-sh'aped support secured to said block, a switch in the shell, atransversely slidable switchoperating shaft having its bearings in thelegs of said support, a spring for normally maintaining said shafttoward 'the keyhole so that one of its ends projects into said keyhole,a detachable key for operating said shaft, and inea/ns for limiting thetransverse movement of the shaft.

11. A lamp-socket, comprising a shell having a4 keyhole, a block in Saidshell, a U-sha-ped suppoi't secured to said block, a rotary switch insaid shell, a transversely slidable switch-op)erati`ng shaft having itsbearings in the legs ofsaidsupport, a

spring for normally maintaining said shaft shaft lying normally againstthe inner side of the leg ot' said Ushaped support adjacent said keyholefor limiting the outward movement of said shaft/amil a detachable keyfor rotating said shaft.

12. A lamp-socket, comprising a shell having a keyhole and an interiorgroove extending from thef socket opening to said keyhole, a block insaid shell, a U-shaped support secured to said block` a switch intheshell` a switch-o])crating shaft having bearings in the legs of saidsupport, said shaft being transversely slida'ble to enable said grooveto'rcceive one en'd of theshaft when said block with the support andVswitch are inserted in the shell` a spring Jfor iioilimllviiiaintaiiiingsaid shaft toward the keyhole so that said end projects into saidkeyhole when the Iparts are assembled, a detachable. key tor operatingsaid shaft. and .means for limiting the transverse move- .ment of thshaft.

13. A lanip-socliet-- comprising a shell' having a keyhole and au'interior groove exiei'iding from the socket opening to said keyhole. ablock in said shell.' a U-shaped support secured to said block` 1a.rotary switch' in said shell, a switch-operating shaft having bearings ndie 'legs of said support, said shaft being transversely slidabletoenable said groove to. receive one end of the shaft when seid bl'fekwith the support andsvvitch are insertedfglnthe shell,

a spring `-for lnormally 'maintaining said shaft toward the keyhole so.tthatsaid end projects into said keyhole v'vhe'n the parts are assembled,lugs on saidhf lying nor mally against the inner sidjof the legof saidU-shaped support adjat said keyhole for limiting the outward I'iovementof 'I saidvshaft, and a detachable key for rotating said shaft. l

14. A lamp-socket; comprising an n- .tegral shell having a, keyhole endun in- V.terior groove extending from the socket opening tosaidl'keyhole, a switchhaving a laterally `movble operatinU-shaftengaging said groove when the switch is inserted,

and' a key extending into said keyhole and detachably secured to saidshaft when the partsare'assembled.

" In testimony whereof I aflin myw signa- I

